In the coming few years, there will be an enormous shift in demand management between transportation modes – the overburdened road network is set to share significant oncoming demand with dedicated railway freight corridors that have superior freight handling capacity. New national waterways being built, a plethora of sophisticated 3PL and 4PL players revolutionizing the warehousing sub-sector, increasing consumption and consumer maturity is providing a big fillip to the packaging sub-sector, leading to more job creation.
In the coming few years, there will be an enormous shift in demand management between transportation modes – the overburdened road network is set to share significant oncoming demand with dedicated railway freight corridors that have superior freight handling capacity. New national waterways being built, a plethora of sophisticated 3PL and 4PL players revolutionizing the warehousing sub-sector, increasing consumption and consumer maturity is providing a big fillip to the packaging sub-sector, leading to more job creation. But, World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index observed that the logistics and supply chain sector in emerging economies such as India have a considerable skill gap, especially at the managerial level. As the Indian logistics industry is now adopting digital technologies and harnessing its potential, clearly evident from the digitalization of export and import transactions and popular use of electronic tagging technology, there is a recurrent demand for skilled talents.
Every business today is in need of well-trained and qualified professionals who can manage their inventory and warehouses, keep track of accounts, and handle the customs and regulatory compliance, and other processes depending on the skills availability. The professionals in this sphere continually strive to ensure that goods and services are delivered to consumers on time and in proper condition under minimum costs to achieve high levels of customer satisfaction. The focus is on providing the best service to customers and increases the supply of goods in the market. For this, the market players require a large number of trained manpower.
Looking at the current employment status, over a lakh of incremental jobs are expected in warehousing alone whereas around four lakhs in packaging and transportation for the next four years. As logistics is linked with sub-sectors like transportation, movers, and packers, the transporters who are willing to work, therefore, are given the opportunities.
The Rise of New Job Roles
The job roles such as consignment booking assistant, e-documentation assistant, courier delivery executive, warehouse packer, inventory clerk, logistics and distribution manager, supply chain analyst, supply chain coordinator, supply chain manager are born out of the need to stay attuned to the evolving industry scenario and tech adoption on a large scale. As integrated logistics is the new trend, talents working in the sector bag high compensation packages that vary from skills, experience, and knowledge. In order to retain them and encourage adding value and innovation in the business, companies also ensure stress-free working conditions and complete safety to achieve higher employee productivity and efficiency.
Re-engineering Skills and Talent
With tech-oriented logistics gaining momentum, various universities and private educational institutions offer degree, diploma, and certificate programs in logistics and management. To get jobs, a bachelor's or master's degree, or any professional diploma course in Logistics and Supply Chain Management that credit them with the essential knowledge and skills of the field of responsibility. Even the government is keen to equip the youths with the optimal skill-set and empower the existing employees in the logistics and supply chain management sector through specialized training centers. NITI Ayog, the policy think tank of the Government of India, has established skill development and training centers all across the country to up-skill the job candidates.
Interestingly, the number of women employees in the logistics industry is also increasing at a rapid rate as the statistics account for 21%, rising from 5% recorded a decade ago. The logistics companies are embracing and encouraging gender diversity, providing women with equal career opportunities. And, therefore women are taking up the charge of responsibilities in other promising spheres of the sector.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article above are those of the authors' and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of this publishing house
